Longsheng County, North Guangxi
Longji Rice Terraces 龙脊梯田
Zhuang and Yao villages carved into the steepest terraces on earth.
- Region
- Longsheng County, North Guangxi
- How long
- 1 to 2 days (overnight for sunrise)
- Best time
- April to June (flooded), September to October (golden harvest)
- Climate
- Cooler mountain air, 10-25°C; terraces flood April to June and turn gold September to October
What is there to see in Longji Rice Terraces?
- -Ping'an and Jinkeng viewpoints
- -Longji Ancient Zhuang Village
- -Huangluo Yao Village
- -Flooded-terrace spring reflections
- -Cable car over Jinkeng
What it was like on the ground
We arrived in Ping'an at dusk and hiked to the Seven Stars with Moon viewpoint carrying a headlamp, then came back at 5:30 AM to watch the sun ignite the flooded paddies one terrace at a time. The Yao women in Huangluo, with their floor-length hair coiled on top of their heads, invited us into a wood-framed home for oil tea, sweet and gingery. The real lesson: do not day-trip this. The terraces empty out after the buses leave, and that is when the place belongs to you.
How do you get to Longji Rice Terraces?
Longji is a 2-hour drive north of Guilin through winding mountain roads.
By train: No rail to the terraces; take a bus or private car from Guilin (CNY 40-60, 2h).
By air: No airport; fly into Guilin and transfer by car or the public bus.
What should you eat in Longji Rice Terraces?
Bamboo-tube rice (竹筒饭) CNY 15-25
Sticky rice steamed inside green bamboo over a fire, sold by Yao villagers along the paths. Eat it hot.
Oil tea (油茶) CNY 10-20
Pounded tea with ginger, peanuts and puffed rice. The Yao staple that fuels mountain mornings.
A sample day in Longji Rice Terraces
Overnight
- Afternoon: arrive, hike to the Seven Stars with Moon viewpoint
- Sunrise: terrace reflections from the upper lookouts
- Late morning: Huangluo Yao village, then return to Guilin
Where should you stay in Longji Rice Terraces?
Ping'an village guesthouses (CNY 150-400) — Wooden Zhuang homes above the terraces with sunrise views and family kitchens.
Jinkeng cable-car hotels (CNY 300-600) — Modern stays near the cable car top station for the panoramic lookouts.
Is Longji Rice Terraces right for you?
Worth it for
Photographers, culture seekers, anyone willing to climb for a view
Skip it if
Travelers with mobility limits; the terraces are steep and stairs are everywhere
Know before you go
Day-trip crowds peak 10 AM to 3 PM
Tour buses from Guilin arrive by mid-morning. Sleep on the mountain and you get the terraces to yourself before 9 AM and after 4 PM.
The stairs are real
There is no flat ground. Pack light, wear grippy shoes, and budget extra time for the climbs between viewpoints.
Longji Rice Terraces FAQ
1 to 2 days (overnight for sunrise). Best suited to: Photographers, culture seekers, anyone willing to climb for a view.
April to June (flooded), September to October (golden harvest). Cooler mountain air, 10-25°C; terraces flood April to June and turn gold September to October.
No rail to the terraces; take a bus or private car from Guilin (CNY 40-60, 2h).
Bamboo-tube rice (竹筒饭) — CNY 15-25; Oil tea (油茶) — CNY 10-20.
Ping'an village guesthouses: CNY 150-400; Jinkeng cable-car hotels: CNY 300-600.
Other places in Guangxi
- Guilin 桂林 The karst landscape that put China on the postcard
- Yangshuo 阳朔 Karst peaks, bamboo rafts and the slowest pace in China
- Beihai & Weizhou Island 北海涠洲岛 China's youngest volcanic island and a beach break without the crowds
- Chongzuo & Detian Waterfall 崇左德天瀑布 Asia's largest transnational waterfall on the Vietnam border
- Liuzhou 柳州 The birthplace of luosifen, the noodle soup that took over the world
- Huangyao Ancient Town 黄姚古镇 A 1,000-year-old town of stone lanes and karst, still lived in
- Bama & Hechi 巴马河池 The 'longevity village' and Guangxi's karst secret world
Planning the whole region? See all Guangxi destinations, the ready-made itineraries, the food guide and the best time to visit.